The Cosmic story of Brandon Crosby

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A door closing can feel like the end of a dream—until it points you to a bigger stage. Brandon “Showtime” Crosby joins us to chart a path that runs through JUCO resets, indie ball grind, and a pandemic pause, then pivots into the wild creativity of the Savannah Bananas and a leadership seat at Cosmic Baseball. It’s a story about talent, but it’s mostly about faith, reinvention, and choosing purpose when the traditional ladder won’t hold your weight.

We start at the beginning: a Richmond kid with a Royals legacy, a love for baseball, and a detour when a D1 opportunity vanished at the last minute. From academic setbacks to a master’s in ministry, Brandon lays out the real math of chasing pro dreams—injuries, long drives after releases, and a league structure that can ignore great numbers. Then comes the twist: showing up to a Bananas tryout as Michael Jackson, discovering that performance and authenticity can live on the same field, and learning the playbook of branding, social storytelling, and fan connection.

When that chapter ended, Cosmic Baseball called within hours. Now Brandon’s not just performing—he’s co-creating the show, bringing ideas to the table, and playing closer to home in front of packed crowds. The platform fuels a deeper mission: building a Black baseball community in Richmond, mentoring the next wave, and making access and development real, not theoretical. Expect candid talk on identity, resilience, and the simple discipline of controlling your daily inputs when outcomes are out of your hands.

If you care about baseball, athlete development, or turning setbacks into momentum, this conversation hits home. Tap play, share with a teammate or parent who needs the encouragement, and leave a review to help more listeners find stories that push the game—and the culture—forward.

Transcript

Welcome & Guest Introduction

SPEAKER_01 0:06

You're listening to the No Shot Podcast, where we discuss sports, true stories, and mental health. Brought to you by True Victory Apparel and Radio Influence. Let's get after it.

SPEAKER_03 0:18

Welcome back to the No Shot Podcast. We are your host, Santa, T Mike, and A Town.

SPEAKER_01 0:24

Yo, this is us all that does an all that is. I'm not gonna keep that going. It's T Mike, what's going down? Welcome back to the No Shot Podcast. It's been brought to you by Radio Influence. That's our boy J Floyd. And we got A Town in the front and in the background. And once again, you know, it's sponsored by the brand True Victory Apparel. And today, we are in Tampa Bay, Florida, and we have an exciting guest. And we are incredibly encouraged by his story, by what he wants to do with the remainder of his career and his background. You guys are gonna have a wonderful time. We got BC, the one and only Brandon Crosby on the show.

SPEAKER_04 1:13

Clap it up for your man. It's good to be back.

SPEAKER_01 1:20

Brother, you have no idea. So we are gonna start once again from the very beginning. And the more and more we wrap up into this conversation, the more and more I think our audience is gonna be astonished. So BC, take us from the beginning, my guy. Let's go.

Early Life And Love For Baseball

SPEAKER_04 1:34

Yeah, so kind of you, so I'm gonna um so T Mike, man, I kind of want you to like kind of, you know, where you want me to start at, you know, cut me and then tell me where you want me to go, just so we make sure we're on the same time. Like, what do you you want me to start from high school or just, you know, when I was a kid? Where do you want me? What you got?

SPEAKER_01 1:52

You know what? I think the world wants to know where it began from the beginning, my dude. What gave you the love to the game? Okay, got you.

High School Recruiting And JUCO Detour

SPEAKER_04 1:58

Okay, well, um, well, for you for those of who don't know me, my name is Brandon Crosby. Um, I'm from Richmond, Virginia. Um, I actually live on the outskirts of Richmond in a um small town called McCannisville, Virginia. Um and, you know, I grew up here. Um I started playing baseball when I was four years old. Um, I always had a liking to baseball because my dad played some professional ball with the um with the Royals, Kansas City Royals. Um he led the nation and stole bases in college. So I kind of just clinged to baseball. Um as soon as I can remember, I was I had a bat in my hand. Um, you know, growing up playing all the three major sports in Richmond baseball, basketball, football. Um, you know, going throughout my career, growing throughout my life, um, just like I said, found the liking of baseball, found really clung to baseball, really um started to find out um that that was what I wanted to do. Um when I got to high school, I actually started playing football. Um I I grew up playing football, but I started playing football in high school, and um I actually was really good at it. And um, you know, I took a break for a while throughout middle school, and then I got to high school, and in my junior year, I picked up football again. I actually did really well to the point where I became a prospect, a football prospect, and um school started to want me to duel, to um, to go and play baseball and football, but um I didn't want football bad enough. Um, you know, it was funny because I actually got more attention for football than I did baseball, but it was always in my heart to play baseball, and that's what I always wanted to do. So um, you know, I found myself trying to get into school to go to play baseball, um, had some opportunities, um, but ended up going to junior college um because of some things fell through at the NCAA Division I level. And um I ended up going to um Spargo Methodist College out of high school where I ended up red shirting and I actually got kicked out of school with my freshman year, came back home. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So whenever y'all want me to cut off, whenever y'all want me to kind of expound on anything, like I said, I know we don't have that much time, so I'm trying to kind of expedite everything. Let it DC, let it easy. Yeah, yeah. So, yeah, so I mean, y'all, you know, really my journey was a lot of ups and downs, a lot of mountaintops and a lot of a lot of valleys. Um, you know, like I said, I went to Sparburg Methodists, it's my first time away from home. Um, just started to get into a lot of bad things, a lot of things I shouldn't have been doing. Um, you know, just like any other young kid, right? You know, you're kind of just going away from the first time. So I ended up, you know, um registraring at Spursburg Methodist, came back home, got my grades up, um, and then I ended up going to Prince George Community College for two years. There, um, I bounced back and I became an all-American. Um, I led that league and stolen bases, and I did really well. So after the two years at Juka or Prince George, I ended up going to Norfolk State University, um, where I played there in 2019, and then I played there in 2020. Um, didn't have so much of a great year, 2019, but 2020 started off really hot. I was doing my thing, and then COVID hit. So COVID hit me, and then that season was bang. So after that, the world was shut down. No baseball, no school, no nothing. So I decided to go to Tampa, Florida and train with Reggie Williams. T. Mike, you know who that is. I sure do. The Williams, the brothers, Cam Williams, Jordan Williams, shout out to those guys. I went down to Tampa because I wanted to pursue my pro career. That was always a goal for me to want to go to the professional level. So I went out here and I trained with Reggie Williams. I stayed in his house and I was there for about a year and a half. Um, we were just waiting for things to open up to get opportunities. But in the meantime, we were just training, we were getting better in there. That's when I just developed so much as a baseball player, as a person, um physically, mentally, spiritually. And um I actually had an opportunity to go play professional baseball. Um, but some um but I went to go play um a professional indie ball. I had a tryout um at a spring training, I was doing really well. I think I would have made this team, but the last out before the game, like this is the last day of spring training, and I was doing really well. Um in the last day, I ended up sliding into second base, and I damn damn near like broke my ankle, like sprained it, high sprained really bad, out for six months now, missed that season. Year flies by. I decided to go back to college at Warner University in NAIA in Florida to get my COVID year back just so I can go put up numbers, you know, show that, you know, I I I can play ball because, you know, like I said, I hope I took a whole year off because I was hurt. So ended up going to Warner University, and that honestly changed my life. It was the best move for me because I ended up studying my master's in ministry. Um I got really close to God. Um I was around a great group of guys. I was around a great, a great team. I had a really good year. And after that year at Warner University, I got picked up to go play independent ball the following year. So I played independent ball in the Pioneer League for two years. Um I played with the Northern Colorado Owls the Ogden Raptors, and the Rocky Mountain Vibes. And I finished out with the Rocky Mountain Vibes, um, my second year in um independent ball. So that what was that? That was that was 20, that was 2022 and 2023. I played indie ball in the Pioneer League out there in Colorado, Utah, like all the way out there. So I was out there for two years. And um after that, I went and signed with the Savannah Bananas. Um I went on the 30 City Tour, the 2024 tour. We went all over the place, played in a number of big league stadiums. Um it was really crazy.

Norfolk State, COVID Shutdown, Tampa Pivot

SPEAKER_01 8:01

Wait, wait, wait, wait, get the timeout, get the timeout, timeout. PC. You went from high-level indie ball to the Savannah Bananas. The Savannah Bananas. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. So we got a nice little gap right there, my boy. So, how did we go from playing pro ball in the indie world where most athletes are attempting to transition to, you know, the minor leagues to get that draft deal.

Injury Setback And Return For A Master’s

Independent Ball Reality Check

SPEAKER_04 8:32

And then so for me, it was a thing of like that was always the goal, right? Was to get promoted, was to get to the next level. And, you know, I had I had two decent years. I I did well, but for me, um, like I said, the whole goal is to get to the next level, and I would say affiliate ball, right? So, like, you know, nowadays, man, it's really hard to um to boot that door down because of just, you know, the union change and affiliate ball. There's so many players, there's guys getting cut by the thousands. So for me, um, you know, I was getting a little older. I think at that time I was about 26 years old. Um I'm playing my butt off, you know, I'm barely getting paid. I'm all the way across the country from where I'm from. I'm missing family. I'm I'm gone for six to eight months. This is grind. And um, you know, at that point, you know, that year, I wasn't really getting many looks to like get to the next level. Like I said, the whole point to sacrifice and is and to do all of these things is to get to the next level. And um, you know, from what I was seeing and who I was around, man, all of my team, 80% of my team on that Rocky Mountain vibes team that year were mostly ex-affiliate guys, and they're all trying to get back to affiliate ball, and like they're not even getting a chance. I mean, it's guys out here with like 30 bombs, like crazy numbers, and they're not even getting a shot. They're not even getting a look. So it's like, what is this guy who's 26 years old, who hasn't even been in affiliate ball? Like, what? Like, I have, you know what I'm saying? Like, we're not even getting getting a scuff of opportunity. And like, I mean, this team, bro, we we made it to like the first round of playoffs. Like, we it was like one of the best teams in Rocky Mountain vibes history. And um, like, you know, a room full of dogs, and and you know, I'm talking to these affiliate affiliate ball guys, I'm talking to the coaches, and they're just talking about how hard it is to get to the next level. Like, you can do all the right things, you can be uh with the right teams and all these things, but it's just like the way that the climate and the structure is set up and professional baseball is really hard to get to that next level. So, and then on top of that, it was a really rough year for me. Like, I the first team I played for, I was with a team with the Ogden Raptors. Um, I ended up getting traded to the Northern Colorado Alles. I went to the Northern Colorado. That was the first team that I originally played for when I was in the Pioneer League. So I went to the Northern Colorado Owls I played there for like a month stint, and then I ended up getting cut and released from there. And then they put me on the third team. So in that year, I played for like third, like three teams. And y'all, you y'all gotta realize too, is like, you know, Indy ball, you're not getting paid much. So like when you're getting cut or when you're moving around, you gotta do all this stuff yourself. So I'm getting the cars, I'm driving from Ogden to Colorado, you know, um, when I get cut, I'm kind of waiting around for a couple weeks trying to get another opportunity. And it's just like, it's it's really, it's it's not feasible because like it's not like I can go get a little side job or anything like that. It's really like the money that I saved up and like support from my family. So it was just getting to a point where it's just like, man, what is my end goal? Like, what is like, you know, like affiliate ball is not looking good, and the only reason I'm here is to get to the next level. So like, what are we really doing here? You know what I'm saying? And I think I started having conversations with a lot of guys around me, and like, you know, it was the same thing for them. If I don't get picked up or if I don't do anything, I need to go back and get a job. Like a lot of my friends don't even play anymore because it's just like, like I said, it's not feasible. So um, you know, it was something in my in my gut, and it's something that I think really God put on my heart, and I really prayed during that time, and I'm like, God, like, you know, if it's something for me here, like please let me know. Like, please show me the next direction. Like, you know, I'm not really feeling this thing no more. Like, I'm putting in all this work, I'm doing all this stuff, like I'm still doing decent, like, you know, but it's not working. And I knew in my heart that I still wanted to play. I knew in my heart that like I wanted to play baseball, I wanted to do this for a living, but like whatever this is, ain't it. So um it's funny because after that season, I already, I had already knew that I wasn't gonna be playing indie ball again. Like I had already known that. But um, you know, like I said, I was asking for direction, I was asking for clarity. And um at that at that time, I'm like, well, if I'm not gonna go play affiliate ball, you know, with an affiliate assistant, like at least I can take my talents and my experience and like maybe make baseball into an experience, you know, like go overseas like Flood did, T Mike. Like, you know, like maybe go overseas or, you know what I'm saying, like go in one of these other countries where at least I might not be getting paid much, but I can go travel Europe or I can see something different. So I literally started the process of trying to go play baseball overseas to the point where a team of Austria hit me up and I started getting to the process of like going out to Austria and playing overseas. So in the midst of, in the midst of all of this, I'm, you know, I because I had a relationship with the baseball job overseas guys, because when I was at Warner University, I was interested in doing it. It was funny because me and y'all got to get Flood on here. I think that'll be a good conversation to see Mike. I would like Flood in for that. But because he because he just went overseas, but it was funny because me and Flood played at Warner University together. And we were, when we were there, we had signed up this whole thing to go on baseball jobs overseas to, you know, because we just wanted to play at the next level. So um it was funny. I created a relationship with them and I had my profile, and I just re-amped it, and they got me in touch with a team in Austria. You know, I was, I, I um was in the process of going out there, getting my housing straight, the whole nine. And then that's when um the recruiter from the bananas hit me up on Instagram, and he's just like, hey, like, would you be interested in banana ball? And I'm like, you know, I'm kind of looking at it, and I'm like, man, I ain't trying to do it. Like, I'm like, bro, like, what is this, bro? Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, because everybody knew about the bananas, but like, for real, for real, I ain't gonna lie to y'all, like, being an indie ball and stuff, like when you actually playing baseball with the bananas, the way like the outside looking in as a ball player, you look at it like it's corny and it's goofy. And it's like, I know some of my boys do it. I see that they're doing all this stuff, but it's kind of like this is kind of a gimmick. Like, this isn't, you know, you don't know something is for you until you actually do it. So, like, that was kind of like where I was at with it. It was this thing of, uh, okay, you hit me up, but I don't really, you know, care too much about it and stuff like that. You know, I'm kind of just like, okay, like the dude, he hit me up. He's just like, yeah, like, like if you're interested, let's have a call and stuff like that. And I'm kind of like, I don't know. Um, I just wasn't really hype about it. You know what I'm saying? I was just like, okay, like that's cool. And then I think I mentioned it to like my sister or like my mom or something, and they was like, what? The bananas? Like, you know, because at that time I wasn't really big on TikTok and Instagram and stuff like that. So they would like, I think my sister was just like, TikTok, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, they're going crazy on TikTok. They're doing all this stuff, they dance and they're going to all these savings and stuff like that. She was like, you'll be perfect for it. And I was just like, okay, like I didn't really even think. And now, and she was like, you should definitely like take the call, like see, at least see what he's talking about. Like, what do you have to lose? Um, because like I said, my mom was already um on the Austria situation. So, so yeah, so I I had to call with the with the recruiter, the guy named Barry, and you know, he he talked to me, and he was just telling me about banana ball, like everything about it. And then he, and then what really got me is he started talking about the money.

SPEAKER_02 16:37

There you go.

Wrestling With Purpose And Next Steps

SPEAKER_04 16:40

He's like, they did like all of this stuff, and I'm like, yo, you mean to tell, like, he started saying, like, oh, we're going on this 30 city tour, we're gonna be playing in big league stadiums, and like you can build your platform, you can build your brand, and all this and that. I'm like, yo, this sound, this sounds pretty sweet. Like, you know what I'm saying? I'm like, and then I started doing research myself. I started looking up stuff, I started like looking at the YouTube, learning more about Jesse Cole. I'm like, I you know, at this point, I'm still kind of like, you know, but this ain't real ball. So like, you know, I I don't really know. But after prayer and after like really talking to my girlfriend at the time, my ex-girlfriend, and talking to family, it was like, man, let me go ahead to the tryout because they had a tryout in Daytona. So I came, I was in Tampa at the time. This one I was around UT, Mike. And um, um, yeah, so I ended up, oh actually, yeah, this it was around the time before I signed with the bananas that we met and everything, but I ended up going to the tryout in Daytona, and I literally said I was just like, I don't know how it's gonna go down, but I'm just gonna have fun with it. And really, it was like a tryout, like they were trying me out, but it for me, it was like, I'm trying them out. Like this is this is my interview, this is my interview to see if I like banana ball. So I was just like, man, I'm just gonna go out here. I I dressed up as Michael Jackson, I went out there with music. I was Michael Jackson for the day. So the whole tryout is like it's like a it's like a regular tryout, but it's like a banana ball tryout. So like they got dances that they're teaching you, you know, they you like instead of doing plays in the field, you gotta do strict plays. You gotta have like this certain type of antique to yourself to where you can separate yourself. So, like I said, I went out there as Michael Jackson, I was hee-heeing, moonwalking, stepping into the box and doing y'all, y'all know how I do. So, like, that's kind of what I did, and I killed it. I had a lot of fun, and you know, two months later, they called me to be on the bananas and um they brought me in, and that's kind of how I started my banana journey.

SPEAKER_00 18:45

I like that though. I like I like what you said about the interview. It wasn't, and I think that a lot of people go into interviews, even the jobs and things like that, to where they're like, you know, um, I'm these guys are interviewing me, but it's not really like that. It's you know, you already had a feeling I got this job, and you know, I'm interviewing you because I want to see if I want to come to you.

SPEAKER_04 19:05

Yeah, exactly. And I think that was really kind of like where I was at, like, because like I said, I was still kind of on the fence. I still, you know, anybody else is like, oh, the banana is like, ah, like I wasn't really like that. It was more of like, you know, I know I can ball, I know what I can do, but like, is banana ball really for me? Can I really do this? And then I went and it was like really fun. And I think me just putting myself out there just to have fun and just enjoy it, you know, kind of really brought the best out of me in a way, you know. So, um, so yeah, it was it was really cool. And, you know, like even playing with the bananas, going on that 30 cities city tour, man, it changed my life.

SPEAKER_00 19:43

But getting back, you know, rewinding a little bit though, um, how frustrating was it to go through all these years and you you know, you want to play baseball, baseball and stuff like that? How how frustrating was it to get past all that?

Considering Overseas Ball

SPEAKER_04 19:56

You know, um Yeah, you talk about like wild playing. stuff. Yeah. Like, yeah, I mean, I mean, yeah, I mean, it's super frustrating because it's just like, I mean, y'all know how it is. You got a dream and you want this thing so bad. And then, you know, you you're going through all this stuff and you kind of seeing your dream slip away out your hands. And you're kind of just like, there's nothing I can do to control this. And I think like for me, um, these guys know, like my faith is is like my, like everything I do is rooted in faith. So it's like, for me, it was kind of like, and now looking back, it was a thing of you might want all of this stuff, but I got something better for you. Like God, like I'm talking about God, right? Like, like I'm going through all of this stuff and I'm kind of fighting it. I'm trying to get to affiliate ball, but at that time I couldn't see that God has something better for me, which is what I'm doing right now in baseball entertainment. This is a whole new lane for guys like me to have the opportunity to play, be on the platform and do what they love in a whole different way. So at the time, like I said, when I was going through all this stuff, I'm just looking at it as, God, like why, why isn't my dream coming true? Like why isn't this working out for me? But in actuality, it was, it was really him just setting me up. It was really him kind of trying to push me out of that so I could go into something better for myself. So you know it I I think that's that's really how I look at it. It wasn't a it wasn't a loss, it was a lesson. And that and that and that lesson was and that lesson was and that lesson was my biggest blessing.

SPEAKER_02 21:31

You know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_00 21:33

You know I'm just you you're saying when where you were growing up you were you know triple sport dude and everything was pushing you towards football. What why didn't you go, you know, if everything was so frustrating in baseball why didn't you hop to football where you you know everybody else was like you got the talent it was two things man like I said I always clung to baseball everybody played baseball.

The Savannah Bananas Call

The Tryout: Becoming “Showtime”

SPEAKER_04 21:53

So I had a real love and a real niche for baseball. It just happened to be with football I was with one of the best teams in the state at the time and I grew up playing it and I was really athletic so I kind of just easily kind of went into it. But really the second thing is I was playing with guys that was going to the ACC, the SEC and we and we would kind of go to these camps and we would go to these visits and and y'all I ain't gonna lie to you I seen how big them boys was I seen I seen them I seen I ain't gonna lie man I like football because of the hype the Friday night lights the the putting on the uniform like I liked all the fun stuff about it. You know I ain't but I ain't I didn't love going to practice every day and getting my head busted up you know I mean that that's just that was just that was just the real and and at the time you know I had some advisors and you know what like I was getting heavily recruited like in the especially in the area about like UVA, Liberty, JMU, Townsend, like all these colleges, but like you know my whole thing was like I only come if I if I can play baseball and like the people around me like the coaches around me they're really really good coaches. And they're like, you know they just saying that so you can get like you know so you can come here like these baseball coaches not going to let you do both you know what I'm saying so like unless you just you know you you you kind of got and this was and N IL wasn't a thing and the the schools that I would have that I would have gone to dual at they weren't giving me enough money to you know I'm saying for me to like or to really make sense like it wasn't I wasn't no Jameis Wilson or Russell Wilson type of situation. It was like you go in to come play football and like we pretty much gonna just like you go come on as a walk-on or something. So um that's that's what it was for me man. It was just like and and then and then that's the thing like last minute out of high school I I actually was committed to the University of Louisville like the Louisville Cardinals and at the time yeah I I graduated I graduated in 2015 and that year they actually was in the World Series. So this is when Louisville was like at the top of the top and um like last minute like my senior year of high school um we had a connect at Louisville and what what happened was they had a guy who was like an overall he was like projected to be like the overall like second second round drive pick and all these things but he was committed to Louisville. So what they were thinking in their head was yo this kid's about to sign to the league and we need somebody to replace him so they hit me up to pretty much be his replacement like if this guy signs to the MOB you're gonna come in and play his role and be a utility guy because I started going crazy my senior year at prospect camps and all these different things. And um so I was literally like this guy's backup like they had me like another thing they had me enrolled in classes dorm rooms I had gone on visits I had seen them when they came and played UVA like this is when Louisville is at the top of the top knew the head coaches knew everybody um and then I was really distraught on my graduation day the recruiting guy calls me and he says hey I you know um I got some bad news you know the guy decided to sign so on draft day he he decided to sign to Louisville and get his education instead of going into the draft and he actually ended up playing at Louisville for about three years and then got drafted like I think he was like top ten like round picks or something like that. So that's that's it that's initially why I ended up going the junior college route because I didn't go to Louisville. So um you know it was just like you know but you know like I said God's plan man God's will so um like I said Mount um peace and valleys man peace and valleys but that's the beautiful part of the story here BC like let's let's see once again what happened let's fast forward back to banana ball we're talking about the birth of Showtime that is an extraordinary experience well well showtime was birthed before that really give it the history showtime showtime was birthed before that people just didn't know that but like so the name Showtime came from my fraternity Omega Sci5 Fraternity Incorporated I I pledged and I um I went over in 2020 a grad chapter called Delta Omega and I was online and when I came off when I crossed that's what the bras that's what my brothers that's the nickname my line name that's the nickname that they gave me was Showtime because when I when I would do the hops when I did would do the different like fraternity things I it was very like it was very much a show every time I did something it was like a show it was like a I was a I'm I I was I come from an entertainment um family so like everything I did with hopping to facials to showing my um you know my enthusiasm they so the brothers of Omega that I'm the chapter that I'm in they they the ones who gave me that name Showtime so when I actually got with the bananas um that was like the first thing that popped in my in my head was well I'm just gonna go with what they call me Showtime so that's that's really where it originated from that's absolutely amazing which brings us back to our sponsor True Victory Apparel if you're not perfect this is the perfect brand for you if you've ever struggled if you've ever failed if you've ever been the underdog if you've ever doubted yourself or been doubted by others this is the perfect brand for you if you want to get better be better and make our world better this is the perfect brand for you founded by U.S.

SPEAKER_01 27:56

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Faith, Frustration, And Reframing Failure

SPEAKER_03 28:38

Go to www.truevictory.com that is www.truvictory.com to cop the dopest swaggiest most show tinyest brand on the planet and when you get there you will use discount show uh discount code Aaron Solano that is A-R-R-O-N S O L A N O at checkout thank you to the brand yeah true victory apparel for being the sponsor of the no shot podcast Santa swing it back to showtime you know right what I what I love about your story is that you've had so many setbacks like so many like times when like I mean you you could have thrown in the towel and like what you said before the break like all these setbacks were set up and now taking that to what you're doing now uh serving with the the AAU team and travel ball and with the group home that you mentioned that you're looking at getting into taking some of that what you've learned about all the the setbacks and everything and letting these kids know like hey man life isn't gonna go the way that you want all the time. Sometimes it's gonna punch you in the mouth and you gotta take it because that that's gonna teach you something you can either learn from that or you can choose the power and just waller yourself anyway and continue to just live in this delusion that I will, you know, nothing's ever gonna go my way. Everyone's against me.

Branding, Socials, And Owning Your Lane

SPEAKER_04 30:17

Yeah definitely how did you pick yourself up from all these like um you know I wanna I don't want to say failures but you know I think they're failures yeah Roblox adversity man I like I said man I give all the glory to God you know um I think in each different season or each different setback you know I that's where I really found God. That's what really built me you know um those um breakdowns were my breakthrough you know like and I like I said like I couldn't see that damn but now I'm in a point now where like I I look back and I wouldn't change anything I wouldn't change anything that happened man because those are the things that made me into who I'm who I am it was shaping my character it was shaping my courage it was shaping my boldness it was really for like you know and that's the thing I think as people a lot of times we're like you know God I want to be this strong man and I want to do all these great things and I want to just be this type of person but you know what God's gonna do? He's gonna send things to make you that you know what I'm saying like he's just not like he's a God of action. He's not a God of like I'm just gonna give you stuff and you know it's just you're gonna be this person. No it's like any great person or any anybody who who's done a great thing like had to go through something. So I I just look at it as you know now I look at it as you got to earn your stripes you know like I tell these young guys like they're like man I don't want to work out like you know I hate failure like I hate going through these things and I'm like you know I get the point of now it's like you're all that is is just earning your stripes you're becoming the person that you say that you want that you want to be and I think life has a way of just like testing you to like see if if you really want to be that person. It's like that's all it is that's all adversity is is a thing of yo like how bad do you want this? And then if you can get through it you see the light at the end of the tunnel because it's just like wow that wasn't really built to hurt me that was built to help me you know you know so like that's I mean that's like like I said man my my like God in that time like you know I'm with him I'm asking him questions I'm like Lord like why am I going through this? What's going on? And you know there's a verse that says you might not know now but later you'll understand and I think that's kind of just a testament to my life to where I didn't know I didn't understand at the point I didn't know why all this stuff was not going my way or when it was going my way then I would kind of just go back to that valley but it's like you know I can see now whether it was my own mistakes whether it was just things that I couldn't control all of it was working out for my good because for me to be have these desires and these dreams he had to I had to go through that to to get to where I'm at now I had to speak of that that's the beauty in your story BC how did Showtime grow while being in Bananaball yeah um I think so I mean as you guys know like even when I was Bananaball like y'all came to a game and stuff and um I wasn't really playing much I wasn't like the star you know I wasn't like the Coach Rack or the Jackson Olsens like I was kind of like the guy that they use for entertainment stuff. I would hype up the fans I was kind of like you know I was still in the bananas but I was kind of like just still trying to earn my way to like I guess starmanship. And um you know for me I really listened to the guys around me. Like you know me and me and Rack had a really good relationship and he was very knowledgeable about you know social media and like just how to brand yourself, how to market yourself. So and I mean not just him but like a lot of the great creators that were in Bananaball and and for me any space that I'm in that I don't really that I'm kind of foreign to you know what I learned through Pro Ball was all right like how can I learn? Like I I'm not a m I'm not an expert in this but like I'm around some great people who know a lot of stuff. So I just kind of became a chameleon in the thing of all right like what can I do to make the most out of this what what can I do to steward this in the best way possible and what I learned was and this could be for anybody who's listening what I learned was the best when you're working in entertainment on the socials or even in your your pro sport is to really like it's so cliche but it's really to be yourself and through and through like in a world where we're we're we got a bunch of clones we got a bunch like we we live in a trendy world we live in a brain rot world to where like everybody just hops on these trends and everybody kind of looks the same. And it's like in the midst of that how can you be different? How can you separate yourself? And the only way to do that is to be yourself because can't no can't nobody can be you but you and I think that's the big thing when it comes to just being in these spaces in this type of realm is that like you have to separate yourself. You know what I'm saying? Like it's the same thing in sports right like it's we we will compare it to baseball like in baseball I gotta be able to like either throw hard, hit the ball really far, be fast on my feet, be great defensively I got to bring something to the table. So what are what is Brandon really good at? What are some strengths? What makes me different what can I give to the world that can help, that can make an impact that can bring some value and then also with the things I'm not so good at how can I kind of tap into that how can I get better at that to to bring what I'm good at, what I'm not so good at and kind of combine it and just like become just an overall like you know to reach my full potential. So that's what it was for me. And it was a thing of like well I'm not playing much I'm not like on the field. So what what can I what can I do to make myself valuable? And for me that was you know talking to fans doing doing stuff with fans a lot um getting on the social media talking about my faith talking about my story trying to motivate the youth you know um getting in the cage with Sensei and and hitting more and doing more you know so it was like you know it was it was this challenge of not playing and wanting to be on the field but it was also this thing of yo on the back end I'm still learning and I'm still growing. So really tried to bring Brandon Crosby not even showtime you know I'm saying like really just brand and Crosby to the space so people can experience me in the best way.

SPEAKER_01 37:07

That's it that's extraordinary and we all know that your tenure with the bananas was obviously a tremendous one but one where in which you learned a ton about what it is to become who you genuinely are built to be obviously in God's in God's eyes. And he's moved you from banana ball to another extraordinary arena.

From Bananas To Cosmic Baseball

Creative Control And Hometown Roots

SPEAKER_04 37:30

Can you expound upon that BC really yeah yeah yeah man cosmic baseball um cosmic ball literally literally cosmic baseball is out of this world um no pun intended is like you know what I'm saying um yeah like and and yeah I didn't I so with the bananas um pretty much ended it there um I didn't get an invitation back and um it didn't work out for me to go back to Banana Ball. But like I said God always has a plan not even 12 hours later I was signed to go play cosmic baseball and go on a Seven City tour. But in this case now I I am the guy I am the guy that they want to come in and help build up cosmic they want me to play they want me to entertain um they really at this point so it's it's it's funny like I said it's funny how God works because I was with the bananas and and and shout out to the bananas man shout out to that experience those guys over there like I tell you guys it changed my life and not only that I learned so much about like just doing it like playing in front of big crowds and you know being around some of the best content creators meeting some of the best fans I learned a lot and um I never discredit that I'll never discredit them um but like God I think God really did want to remove me from that and I was able to go with Cosmic to now you know my owner I'm literally sitting here right next to my owner and he's like hey B what do you think about us doing this? Wow you know I what do you think about us doing that? Like I'm at the table with the entertainment director and we're coming up with skits and ideas that we're doing like that we want to do during the game. So now so now God and take so it's like I said peaks and valleys right because I was in a spot where I didn't have no say I was just a player I was barely playing um I was kind of just always trying to like prove myself to show my worth and now I'm in a position where these guys already know my worth and they want me to be here and they really really appreciate me and they're to the point where they're just like yo we want to pick your brain to kind of see how we can build this thing. So it's like like I said it's and this is and then cosmic baseball is the only other baseball entertainment team in the world. And then not only that Colonial Heights Virginia Is right in my backyard. I'm from out here. So yeah, so yeah. So it's like, that's why I said, man, God has a way of aligning things. He has a way of working things out because, like I said, after Banana Ball was over, I'm kind of like, now what's next? Like, I don't have anything else. And Cosmic, I get hit up by Cosmic, and they're just like, yeah, we're doing this. Like, I'm literally 40 minutes down the road from the, from our home stadium. Um we did the Seven City Tour. It was amazing. When Seven Cities, um, each stop was 10 to 15,000 people packed out. Let's go. Great experience. People loved it. Um, so much so that we are going now in 2026. We're going on a um, we're going on a 30 city tour now. So we done bumped up, we we done bumped up from seven cities to 30 cities now. That's what you're simple. That's what you're doing. Yeah, and I'm and I'm able to play with some of my best friends that I was able to, so that's so that's another thing. Same drop. Like, so so that's another thing. So now, like, yeah, yeah, we can't, I don't think we can announce that yet, bro. I don't think we can announce that. I don't want to get my bro in trouble, but we we know, we, I know what you're saying, T Mike. Um, but but now I'm in a position where like I was able to recruit some of my buddies that I've known throughout the years. Like some of my best friends, I was able to connect them with our people, and now they're playing cosmic baseball as well. So it's like I'm I'm with my people. I'm home. Um, you know, I've been gone before Cosmic, I was gone away from home for six years playing baseball, chasing the dream. So now I can finally come back home, be around my family, be around Cosmic, help build the brand, and I and I love it, man.

SPEAKER_03 41:54

It's like one of those things where I feel like this is where I'm supposed to be you know, one of the things that is is really interesting here is that you know, you were talking about like disappointment and then setup for something greater. Like, you know, you building yourself off the field what was like you didn't realize how valuable that was at the time. And then now you're in a position to where, like, man, I I learned all this stuff. I I I put in all this time to develop myself in other areas, and now I'm actually using it in in a way that's way more fulfilling.

Purpose Beyond Playing Time

SPEAKER_04 42:34

Exactly. Exactly, man. And I and I think like that's why you never know like what's happening or what's going on, and that's why you just gotta trust God and have faith that like all I got is today, and I gotta do the best with what I have today. And y'all, you know, I'll be transparent. Like, even in that time, I was doing all this stuff, but I was still at that point of, ah, I'm not playing, like, I'm not that guy. Like, you know what I'm saying? Like, what's my purpose of being here? You know, it's like, even then, you know, it's like it's easy for me to say it now, but it's like, and I just say this because people who are in these positions that you don't really know what's next, you don't really know why you're going through what you're going through. It's like you can't really control that. Like, you can't really control how the circumstances like um turn out or the results that you get out of whatever you want. But all you can control is the work that you put in, the day-to-day work, you know. Like whether that's you know, and you know, that bro, that's all you can really, and you know, for me and my, and that's that's the lesson that I'm starting, like really starting to learn here is that like I like I can't control everything. All I can control is what branded brings to the table. And that's my daily effort. That's what I put my time into, that's what I'm really focused on. I can't control if a coach likes me or not. I can't control if, you know, somebody wants me to be on their team or somebody wants me to play. Like, I can't control any of that. All I can control is what I can control. Like, that's it. You know what I'm saying? So it's like, even then, it's it, I like, I really believe that like God, you know, in my head, I thought that he wanted me to stay with the bananas and he wanted me to be a star there and be and blow up and be famous. You know, but really maybe he just wanted me there to be a flyer on the wall and learn about baseball entertainment. So then, and now exactly what I'm doing, I learn about entertainment, socials, all that, and now I can bring that to cosmics to where these people, you know, needed that help. They needed people that had been on the 30 City Tour, that experienced these things. So now I'm valuable. And now, you know, it yeah, it's it's something where it's just like I'm I I go from being on the short end of the stick to being on the other end of the stick. So it's just, I just think God is um really like, he's really interesting seeing how he just moves, moves things around and how he kind of orchestrates orchestrates things. And um, you know, I'm just really grateful, man.

SPEAKER_00 45:04

And it's kind of funny though, because you know, your people gave you the nickname Showtime back in the day, and you ended up being Showtime, period, right?

SPEAKER_04 45:13

Yeah, yeah, still, still am Showtime, man. Still, still still.

SPEAKER_00 45:16

Fully to the word, right? Fully to the word, Showtime, right? You're bringing enjoyment to your guys on the field. Yeah. That's awesome. Yep, yep, yes, sir.

SPEAKER_01 45:26

So now as we're as we're trekking forward, we just went from high-level independent ball to frustration. High-level entertainment ball, banana, to high-level cosmic ball, one of the fastest growing versions of entertainment baseball. And you're at the head of the table. Now, with all of that in mind, we understand that there's also so much more to you than just that. There's your love for your community. There's there's a there's a love for African Americans and baseball. Let's dive into that for just a little bit in regards to how we want to expand that piece of baseball to get more youth, to get more college players at the pro level. What's it like, BC, being an African American in this game?

Building A Black Baseball Community

Mentorship, Work Ethic, And Access

SPEAKER_04 46:17

Um, it's really tough. Um, we are the minority. Um, you know, at any team, like, I mean, even this is me growing up, you know, any team that I was on, um, it was majority of my white brothers, um, you know, that I love, um, but I was the minority. It was always a team that I was on or somewhere that I would go. I wouldn't see too many people that look like me. Um, on top of that, you know, it was it's kind of this thing of you kind of feel like you, you, you by yourself a little bit, or you don't um or you or it's kind of tough to get opportunities or different things just because, you know, at least from where I'm from and what I experience is, you know, you don't look like everybody. So you're not with everybody, or you're not getting the same opportunities. And that's that's just surreal from what I experience. Um, but you know, it it's a thing in black baseball where, you know, we don't really have a space to where it's um, how do I say it, it's not it we don't have a space that's conducive for us, for us to really thrive and for us to kind of have to get some of the same resources or opportunities as others, you know, at least in the city of Richmond, Virginia, you know, um, and other places a lot different and stuff like that. So growing up, that's why I played with some black teams. And, you know, once I got older, I went to go play travel ball and do these things to get to the next level. And, you know, like I like I said, as I started getting older, like as I started going to these big showcases and traveling, I started seeing less and less of black kids and baseball. Um, and you know, I think it's just it gets it gets hard because it's, you know, one, it's very, it's it's financially tough. Um the game in itself is really tough. Um, you know, and like I said, there's there's not many people advocating for black kids. Like, you know, a lot of times, you know, in football, right? Like I said, I told y'all my the school that I went to was really good in football. The whole coaching staff was black. Everybody played football. Everybody had connection at colleges and different things. So when I stepped into football, it was easy. Because they like, oh, I got this guy right here that's gonna help him and you know, he did X, Y, and Z, and we're gonna get him ready for over here. So it was just a whole thing of network. And for me in baseball, I didn't have that. It was just me and my dad rolling around chasing the dream. So, like, for me, when I had set out to, you know, make it to the league or chase my dream, you know, I had got really serious with what I wanted and my purpose. Like, it stopped becoming about me and the game and what I wanted out of it. It started becoming like, man, what's my purpose in this? And God, like, how do you want me to use this game to like glorify you and to help other people? And that's really what he put on my heart. Like, from the time when I told y'all I went to my first professional team in northern Colorado, I knew in my head, I was like, I don't know when I'm gonna be back home, but when I get back home, I'm gonna start a black baseball community because I wish I had that when I like my whole thing I tell kids all the time, and even the kids I work with now is my whole thing is I want to be the big brother that I never had in baseball. I want to be that guy for like because that was so because at some point, Brandon needed somebody to take, take, um, take him under their wing. You know what I'm saying? I needed somebody, I needed a big brother, I need somebody genuine to say, hey man, this is what you need to do in this game. You're really talented, you're really gifted, but like I think you should go this way, or I think you should do this, or I think you should do that. Like I said, it was just me and my dad is um 67 years old. He played a lot of ball, but he didn't know anything about travel ball. He didn't know the right tournaments to go to, he didn't know the right teams to play for. We were literally just walking in fall. We were like just walking, hoping and dreaming. And, you know, I think that's the reasons why I have so many failures and so many roadblocks. Like I said, some because of myself, my, you know, self-sabotage, but there are others that were just out of my control. So it was like, with all of this stuff and all this knowledge, like I can't go back. I can't go back to being 12, 14, 16, 17 years old, trying to do this and do that. Like, I can't go back and change any of that. But what I can do is take what I learned and give it back to the youth in a way that can maybe, and I hope and I pray that can help them in their career. So, like, that's literally what I'm trying to do on a macro scale is to really just be that big brother for these guys that got these dreams and got these, you know. I mean, and the boys I've been seeing out here, man. I mean, these man, 10, 12-year-olds, man, they are crazy, man. Like, they are like super talented, you know, big as crap, like, you know, and they love the game. So it's like we got a really good group of guys and it's growing as we go. So I'm really excited about that. And just to be, and you know, I mean, even with my platform and stuff now, like the kids, they eat it up. They love it. And like I said, man, this um, like I said, this, like, this is the black baseball community, but we're not excluding anybody. You know, if you want to come get some work, come get some work. You know, like we got, we got we got we got some white kids that's that's in that's in the pot. We got some, you know, Latino kids that come in, some brown kids that come in. Like, it's not it's not a thing of like this is just black people and nobody. No, it's not that. It's just we want to create a space that is for us and by us. And and and the thing about it is you go get that, you go get some good work. You go get some great work. So um, that's really what it is for me, man. And I think really coaches, mentors, and you know, if you want something to change, be the change. You know what I'm saying? Like, you need to, you know, you know, you see you see, you see a lot of these, you see a lot of these athletes out here, man, especially in my in my town, and um they go out playing the big leagues, football, baseball, whatever. And you and they barely come back home. Or they might come back home for like a a little camp or something like that. But it's like they're not really day by day doing something to really change these, the youth. I mean, it's all about the youth, man. Like at some point, it's not about us anymore. And that's the point that I got to is like I I literally keep on playing baseball and doing cosmic and stuff like that just because it helps the like my purpose. It helps, like, I can reach more people. I can glorify God, I can spread the gospel, you know, like I can give more opportunities for these boys that I'm coaching. So, like, I think that, like I said, if you want to be the, if you want change, be the change and really like get in your community. And like, y'all know how it is. Like, baseball isn't uh a weekend sport. We don't play the game once a week like football. It's baseball is six days a week. It's every day. Y'all boys out in Tampa, y'all don't have no off season offseason. That's why I tell these guys out here. I'm like, you know, it gets cold, it's starting to get cold around here. We gotta adjust and figure out how to keep practicing, how to keep on making it game like, because now these guys are competing against them. Even more than that, they competing against them boys in Dominican and Japan. That's 12 years old right now, waking up at 5 a.m. grinding. Like, if we really talking about baseball and competing at that level, that's what we that's how we gotta think. And like around here in the black baseball community, it's not too much of that. So I'm really like headbent on, especially during the offseason, really tapping into that and really making a difference in that way.

SPEAKER_01 54:09

That is the ultimate amen. That is the ultimate commitment, and that is the end of this episode. But there will be a part DOS because BC's too hot, and we're gonna come back to this subject. But before we go, we got trivia. All right. Yeah, man.

SPEAKER_03 54:25

Let's so this is a specific cosmic baseball question. All right, in cosmic baseball, which player currently has the most home runs and cosmic home run derby total? Oh, I want to say it's let me give the option first.

SPEAKER_01 54:42

He paused like he wanted it.

SPEAKER_03 54:44

All right, all right, all right. So is it A, Reese Jurgen? You hope I'm saying that right. Uh B Trey Vanderpool or C, Cooper Clapp.

SPEAKER_04 54:57

Was well, Cooper Clapp isn't even on the team, so that gives us down to two. And like I already said, my boy Reese Jernigan, my catcher with the Peppers, man. I think he hit like 10 of them boys out or something to get the record in one setting. So yeah, Reese Jernigan, 100%.

SPEAKER_00 55:16

All right. What you got, ATOW? I don't even know. I'm going with him.

SPEAKER_01 55:19

Going with BC with me. You know what? He's showtime. Ain't no way I'm going against the guy without fanfare. Let's go with BC.

SPEAKER_03 55:27

Yeah, it's Reese Jurgen.

SPEAKER_01 55:29

Let's go! Give that man a D.

SPEAKER_04 55:36

I'm breaking that record. I'm breaking that record next year, though. We got a goofy question for you.

SPEAKER_03 55:42

Alright, I'm pretty sure you're not gonna get this question. I uh alright. Alright. Edwin Chandross invented glow sticks. Why were they invented? Alright, a uh it was an accident trying to create an industrial adhesive, b to explain the process of chemicals emitting intense light without giving off heat, or c it was a NASA project to try to create a waterproof light source that didn't require batteries.

SPEAKER_02 56:15

What?

SPEAKER_04 56:16

I would say I would say I would say the last one. I'm gonna go with that last one.

SPEAKER_00 56:20

See? Okay, which is gotta be sound. I I'm going with the the oops. Uh what was it? A? Yeah, where they accidentally did zone.

SPEAKER_02 56:28

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 56:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 56:29

You know something? Like, I understand A and C, but knowing Santa? Just knowing Santa. It's gotta be something. I'm just gonna go B. I'm just gonna do it.

SPEAKER_02 56:39

Alright, yeah. It was A, it was B.

SPEAKER_01 56:44

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 56:47

Okay, actually, the uh A and C, I just made those up.

Trivia, Local Shoutouts, And Closing

SPEAKER_01 56:54

Uh what you made it. Okay, moving on. Okay, we've got Tippa Bay Eateries. Turn that music up, A town. Bam! And on today's episode, we are shouting out all Chicago pizza. Yeah, buddy. They specialize and take pride in the original thin crust Chicago pizza. Their dough and sauce and ingredients are prepared daily, and their cheeses are freshly shredded. They've got desserts like their cannolis that are homemade, crispy, and queen-filled. They're little pizzas of Italian genius. And if you want to have authentic, fluffy, flavorful pizza from one of the best spots in the Clearwater area, you are gonna go to Paul's Chicago Style Pizza. That's our boy Polly Pizza. And you can find them at 1500 North McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, Florida. That's 1500 North McMullen Booth Road in Clearwater, Florida. Go check out Pauly Chicago Style Pizza, and they are the official pizza spot of the No Shot Podcast on the Gen Pub, kaboom with the music. We're going back to BC. We're going back to showtime. And we are going to ask him one final question. Going back to the main point at the end of this episode, BC, you made an emphatic one. There are kids that are being left out in the baseball community. In fact, people don't realize that a lot of young African American players are incredibly talented and the numbers are falling. What would you say to America right now in regards to the value of the young African American player in baseball?

The Case For Black Youth In Baseball

SPEAKER_04 58:41

Um, I would say that I would say for me personally that baseball has changed my life. And that, you know, playing the sport has just taught me a lot of things outside of just playing baseball, outside of just the game. It's taught me, you know, faith. It has grown my faith, it has built my character, it has shown me that even though, even if you were an underdog, or even if, you know, you didn't have, I guess, the best um, you know, the best opportunities that with hard work, with dedication, with um consistency in your life, that you can overcome those things. Because, you know, baseball is really a beautiful game. You know, you fail a lot in it, and it's really hard, but if you can learn how to keep your wits about you, you can keep on going, you keep on striving, you keep on using your brain to get through these different things, there's a reward for you at the end. Beyond just baseball, beyond just going to the big leagues or anything like that, it's gonna set you up to be a great man in your life. You know, when you have a kid one day or you have a job or Um, whatever you want to do in your life, this game helps you become a beast in life. And if you give baseball a try, and it's our jobs as coaches and as the adults to make it fun, that it would be one of the best decisions that you were ever make in your life. So that's what I got.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:21

And that is absolutely fantastic. This has been the no shot podcast, and it's been brought to you by Jay Floyd, that's Radio Influence. You got your boy in the background and in the front, that's A-Town holding down the dings, and it's been sponsored and brought to you by the brand. Yeah, True Victory Apparel. We got BC, we've got a love for the game, we got banana, we got cosmic, and off we go to the stars. Send it.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:50

This has been the No Shot Podcast. Go check out the brand at TrueVictory.com and then go support the past by rating us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!